Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 31 July, 2022
“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will
I make known thy faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 89:1)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Most Avoided Messianic Psalm (8)
“Pour Out Thine Indignation Upon Them” [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 69:1-26
Text: Psalm 69:23-25
I. The Awesome Meaning
II. The Parties Involved
III. The Profound Significance
Psalms: 122:1-9; 35:21-28; 109:8-14; 69:21-26
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Scripture Reading: II Samuel 11:6-27
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 40
I. The Extensive Meaning
II. The Inner Causes
III. The Implied Positive
Psalms: 65:1-5; 36:1-7; 50:17-22; 51:8-15
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
Matthew Poole on Psalm 69:23: “Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. Their eyes; not the eyes of their bodies (for so this was not accomplished in David’s nor in Christ’s enemies) but of their minds, that they may not discern God’s truth, nor their own duty, nor the way of peace and salvation. Punish them in their own kind; as they shut their eyes and would not see, so do thou judicially blind them. This was threatened and inflicted upon the Jews, Isaiah 6:10; John 12:39, 40. Their loins: this also belongs to the loins of their minds or souls; of which we read Luke 12:35; 1 Peter 1:13. The loins of the body are the seat of strength, and the great instrument of bodily motions and actions; which being applied to the mind, the sense may be, either, 1. Take away their courage and alacrity, and give them up to pusillanimity, and terror, and despair; or rather, 2. Take away their strength and ability for spiritual actions. In the former branch, he wisheth that they may not be able to see or choose their way; and here, that they may not be able to walk in it, nor to execute the good counsels which others may give them. As, on the other side, when God gives men strength, they are able not only to walk, but to run in the ways of God, Psalm 119:32; Song of Solomon 1:4; Isaiah 40:31.”
William S. Plumer on Psalm 69:25: “Let their habitation be desolate. This clause is quoted by Christ in his lament over Jerusalem, and applied to the Jewish nation, showing its prophetical character, Matt. 23:37, 28. It is also quoted by Peter and applied to Judas Iscariot, Acts 1:16-20. He speaks of it as a prophecy: ‘This Scripture must needs be fulfilled.’ These things show that the common form of prediction is no just cause of offence. No doubt it foretells the awful doom of all those who malignantly reject the gospel and despise the person of the Mediator. The Jews and Judas were representative men, and as such the clause is applied to them. And let none dwell in their tents. This is a repetition of the prediction of the first clause, and refers to the loss of their own land by the unbelieving Jews, and, together with the first, predicts the evils that should fall on the posterity of such as wilfully and finally reject Christ and the authority of God, Ex. 20:5; Isa. 14:20, 21.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We express our Christian sympathies to the McCaugherns in the death of Val’s mother last Sunday morning. The funeral was held this past Wednesday. May the God of all comfort and consolation uphold them as they mourn the loss of their loved one.
Happy birthday to Mrs. Callender who will celebrate her 90th tomorrow. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless and strengthen her in the year ahead.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet to continue our consideration of the Federal Vision on saving faith.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled, “Remember Me, O God, for Good” (Neh. 13:30-31).
The Council’s next meeting will be held on Monday, 8 August, at 7 PM.
Offerings: £1,511.59. Donations: £90 (Malaysia), £23.87 (Massachusetts, USA), £55 (PayPal Giving Fund).
Translation Additions: 1 Korean.
PRC News: Randolph PRC called Rev. Spronk. Rev. Decker declined the call to Hudsonville PRC. Zion PRC has formed a trio from which to call a minister to serve as home missionary: Revs. J. Laning, Noorman and Brummel.
Solomon Secures the Throne
Brian D. Dykstra
I Kings 2
David knows his death is very near. He charges Solomon to “shew thyself a man.” Solomon was young. Some commentators think he could have been only twelve, but he was certainly younger than twenty. Solomon faced a great challenge in following his father to the throne. We should note how David says Solomon would show himself to be a man. Solomon is not to see to it that he has the best and fastest chariot to impress his subjects as he speeds along the roads. Solomon is not to frequent the gym to work out so he has an impressive physique. True manliness is to “keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways.” Keeping God’s law is the true measure of godly manliness.
One hopes the daughters of the church have the same belief concerning manliness. If the church’s daughters judge a young man’s attractiveness only by worldly standards, the car a young man drives, how handsome he is, the measure of his physical strength or his earning potential, that is the behaviour they will encourage in the church’s young men. One hopes the church’s daughters value, and find attractive, a young man who walks in the fear of God’s name. God can use physical attractiveness as a start to a relationship but the bond must grow beyond that. It is proper that during the days of the strength of youth, a young man or woman enjoys being physically active and is a good steward of the one body God has given. However, there must be moderation. There must also be time spent on spiritual growth and development. Time must also be spent in meditating upon God’s Word, and serving Him and His church.
David then gives instruction about Joab, Barzillai and Shimei, two threats and one faithful subject. Some claim that David’s commands regarding Joab and Shimei are vindictive, beneath the character of the man after God’s own heart. David’s behaviour toward Saul is sufficient proof that David did not seek revenge nor was he eager to shed blood. We must remember Solomon’s youth and that these enemies were serious threats to his rule. David understood that.
Joab deserves the death penalty for his murder of Abner and Amasa. However, David did not carry out God’s justice regarding Joab. David felt he needed Joab because he was so popular with the army. He couldn’t bring himself to mete justice regarding Joab. This was a weakness in David. David knew Joab supported Adonijah and that Adonijah could easily emerge as a threat to Solomon once David had died. Joab could not be trusted, so Solomon must watch him carefully for any hint of treason.
Barzillai supported David during the days of Absalom’s rebellion. Barzillai had probably died by this time, so Solomon would provide for his sons. These sons would not have to be at the royal table and eat there, but Solomon would provide for them from the food gathered to support the royal court. Solomon rewards faithful service. God in His grace also rewards those who serve Him and do His will.
Shimei had cursed David and did all he could to make David’s life, and those following him, miserable. He deserves death for cursing the Lord’s anointed. Shimei tried to make amends by helping David when Absalom’s threat was finished but Shimei represented a threat to Solomon because the tribe of Benjamin, of which he was a part, still resented the fact that the kingdom had passed to the tribe of Judah. Solomon must also watch Shimei closely.
David dies and the threats to Solomon’s rule emerge immediately. David’s final instructions had been well founded.
Adonijah still has hopes of being king and he has a subtle plan. He comes to Bathsheba, not Solomon, with a request. He feels he can take advantage of Bathsheba’s tender heart. He speaks of his great disappointment that he is not Israel’s king. He lied when he said the kingdom was his and that all wanted him to rule. He was correct when he said the kingdom was Solomon’s because God gave it to him, but he does not value that Word of God very highly. He asks to marry Abishag, the beautiful girl who warmed David. Abishag would be something of a consolation prize. If he couldn’t be king, he could at least have a beautiful wife.
Scripture told us that David did not “know” her but her relationship to the king’s harem is cloudy. David’s harem would be passed on to Solomon. Many Israelites might regard her as part of the harem. As such, trying to marry her shows Adonijah had not given up on taking the throne, for when a man tried to take a member of the king’s harem, it was an announcement that he wanted the throne for himself. A king who could not protect his own harem would be perceived as too weak to protect an entire kingdom.
Bathsheba brings Adonijah’s request to Solomon. Initially, Solomon said he would not refuse his mother’s request but, when he heard it, he recognized the threat to his rule which she did not. Solomon realizes Abiathar and Joab are part of the conspiracy. Solomon is already showing himself to be wise and perceptive beyond his years, and God would later greatly increase that gift of wisdom.
The just punishments are swift. Adonijah is executed immediately. Abiathar deserves death but, out of respect for his office as priest and how he had served David in difficult times, he is deposed and sent to tend to his small field. This is the manner in which God fulfilled His word concerning Eli for not disciplining his wayward sons while the tabernacle was in Shiloh. Sometimes God fulfils His word in extraordinary ways and sometimes in a manner which unfolds very naturally.
Joab hears the news. He flees to the altar as a place of refuge. Benaiah, the man Solomon sent to execute Joab, does not want to shed human blood in the place of worship. He commands Joab to leave the altar but Joab refuses to leave. Benaiah notifies Solomon of the problem but Solomon directs Benaiah to fulfil Joab’s wish to die where he was. The altar was not a place of refuge for those guilty of murder.
We finish this chapter with Shimei, the man who had cursed David. Solomon tells Shimei he is to build a house in Jerusalem and stay within the city limits. As soon as he leaves the city, he would be subject to execution. Shimei agrees to these conditions. After three years, two of Shimei’s servants ran away to Gath. Shimei leaves to retrieve them. Solomon must have had servants keeping an eye on Shimei for he hears that Shimei violated the conditions to which they had agreed. Had Shimei been plotting against Solomon? Did he hope Israel’s ruler could again come from Benjamin? Is that what Solomon means when he speaks of “all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to” or is this wickedness only a reference to Shimei’s cursing of David?
Solomon’s kingdom is established. All threats to his rule have been removed. Christ, of whom Solomon was a picture, now sits at God’s right hand. There is no threat to Christ, no matter how the heathen rage against Him. He now waits, and we with Him, for the Father to put all His enemies under His footstool. We will experience the full blessings of Messiah’s reign when He makes His triumphant return.
